The Grand Ballon is the highest mountain in the Vosges. From the top, you can see the Petit Ballon, Ballon dAlsace and the Storkekopf. Looking east, across the Rhine valley, you can see the Feldberg in the Black Forest. This mountain is served by an auto route (the Route des Cretes) which runs from the Hohneck south toward the town of Mulhouse.

The Grand Ballon is situated in Lower Rhine region
and belongs to the
Vosges
.
Starting from Soultz,
the Grand Ballon ascent is 19 km long. Over this distance, you climb 1072 heightmeters.
The average percentage thus is 5.6 %.
The maximum slope is 9 %.

In my opinion, the best way to climb the Grand Ballon, excepting the first 7 km with a crappy road surface but after its a pool with a smooth stip.... a wonderful step with no car, a nice road, in a forest... hope you have keep some energy cuz after the thirtennth km its tuff.
For a big guy like me (75kg/1,74M) its between 10 and 12 km.h-1 till the end.
To go down hill choose the marxstein then guebwiller its quite straight and you can enjoy to ride at 75km.h-1 times to times. Its down hill to guebwiller.
Enjoy your trip but dont forget its a real montain, not just a tiny hill.
Sportively, Becue Fred.